The Cornerstone

/in

The Cornerstone

42 Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: ‘The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone. This was the Lord’s doing,
And it is marvelous in our eyes’?

Matthew 21:42

The cornerstone was a special stone that would be chosen for a new construction. It would be the first stone to go on the foundation and many people would do a sacrifice on the stone so that the building would be strong. It was thought that, much like the foundation, the cornerstone would carry the weight of all the stones that would be put on top and around.

Jesus is our cornerstone. It’s very sad that this text says and indeed prophesied that God’s people would reject Jesus. Jesus wasn’t the stone they were looking for. They wanted a leader who would be violent and powerful, who would topple the Roman government and make them the new superpower on earth. Instead they saw a cornerstone that was more focused on forgiveness, peace and love. They didn’t believe such a weak looking stone could hold anything up. How they were wrong.

What looked like a weak stone was able to topple a government much greater and more evil than Rome. Jesus toppled Satan’s reign and sin itself. Jesus wasn’t just trying to build a human country but a heavenly one. In truth, there is nothing weak about Jesus.

43 “Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a nation bearing the fruits of it. 44 And whoever falls on this stone will be broken; but on whomever it falls, it will grind him to powder.”

Matthew 21:43-44

We must fall on this stone or in other words we must submit out wills and persons to Jesus. We must let him be our foundation and strength. We must not try and be our own strength. Falling on his breaks us but only so that God can rebuild us anew. This is a scary proposition but a necessary one to truly receive the salvation he offers.

In the same way Jesus sacrificed himself for us, we must sacrifice our own wills to him.

 

God bless,

Pr. Steven Couto

The Landowner

/in

The Landowner

33 “Hear another parable: There was a certain landowner who planted a vineyard and set a hedge around it, dug a winepress in it and built a tower. And he leased it to vinedressers and went into a far country. 34 Now when vintage-time drew near, he sent his servants to the vinedressers, that they might receive its fruit.

Matthew 21:33-34

The parable of the landowner is probably one of the most violent and least masked parables of Jesus. It is a shocking truth of God’s people throughout history and how they violently mistreated God’s workers and his institution. In contrast, the landowner is seem as loving, meticulous and pure. The way he prepared the vineyard with everything it would need to prosper shows us how much God wants to improve and grow his church. His only apparent mistake is hiring others to take care. Those unfortunately represent us. He put the importance of his church in human hands and what was the result?

35 And the vinedressers took his servants, beat one, killed one, and stoned another. 36 Again he sent other servants, more than the first, and they did likewise to them.

Matthew 21:35-36

The servants represent the prophets who went to God’s people to try and steer them to God, only to have them be killed and beaten. Prophets rarely are accepted even to this day. But the story gets worse when the landlord comes up with a new idea.

37 Then last of all he sent his son to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ 38 But when the vinedressers saw the son, they said among themselves, ‘This is the heir. Come, let us kill him and seize his inheritance.’ 39 So they took him and cast him out of the vineyard and killed him.

Matthew 21:37-39

Here we have Jesus talking about himself. He knew what was in store for himself. He knew the evil that rested in men’s hearts, even those claiming to be sons of God. The son is killed outside of the vineyard just as Jesus is killed just outside of the city of Jerusalem. How painful must it have been for Jesus to tell this parable?

40 “Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those vinedressers?” 41 They said to Him, “He will destroy those wicked men miserably, and lease his vineyard to other vinedressers who will render to him the fruits in their seasons.”

Matthew 21:40-41

And the story ends with the Jews condemning themselves. May we be different in our days…

 

God bless,

Pr. Steven Couto

The Two Sons

/in

The Two Sons

28 “But what do you think? A man had two sons, and he came to the first and said, ‘Son, go, work today in my vineyard.’

Matthew 21:28

Jesus could take a mundane aspect of life and create a huge lesson from it. Here’s a simple story about a father and his two sons. The father asks his sons to work in his vineyard. This is something that in one way or another happens every day. The response from the two sons is also very common.

29 He answered and said, ‘I will not,’ but afterward he regretted it and went. 30 Then he came to the second and said likewise. And he answered and said, ‘I go, sir,’ but he did not go.

Matthew 21:29-30

One son speaks in the moment and says no but later regrets his decision and attitude and does it. The second, trying to be nice says yes, but his true nature comes out and he ends up doing nothing. How many people have changed their minds in this world? So far there’s nothing to be amazed about but then Jesus asks a simple question.

31 Which of the two did the will of his father?”

Matthew 21:31

It is with this question that the story opens wide open. Because we often make these decisions, like the two sons, we take for granted the lesson that can be learned. Who did the father’s will? What a powerful question. Simply saying yes is meaningless. Words without action are meaningless. Yet, how often do we do just that? How many times do we speak nice words, pretend to be nice people, but our true character is shown in our actions?

They said to Him, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you that tax collectors and harlots enter the kingdom of God before you.

Matthew 21:31

Jesus really drives it home by bringing up the most hated people to the Jews and saying that they have a better chance at heaven than the smooth talking religious leaders.

Let us all look at our lives and see if our nice words match our actions. Do we really want to be behind harlots and tax collectors too?

 

God bless,

Pr. Steven Couto

The Fig Tree

/in

The Fig Tree

18 Now in the morning, as He returned to the city, He was hungry. 19 And seeing a fig tree by the road, He came to it and found nothing on it but leaves, and said to it, “Let no fruit grow on you ever again.” Immediately the fig tree withered away.

Matthew 21:18-19

I love figs. It looks like Jesus liked them too. On one of his travels between towns he saw a fig tree in the distance and, being hungry, you can imagine a smile on his face as he walked towards it to eat. That smile quickly disappeared when he realized that while it had big beautiful leaves, it was void of any fruit.

Out of nowhere, that stricture angrier face of Jesus was shown. Not seeing any fruit, Jesus cursed the tree to never bear fruit again and it instantly withered away.

Jesus often used plants and farming in his parables. Often we are the plants in the story and the fruit is the fruit of the Spirit. In another parable, the farmer gave the fruit tree one more season to bear fruit. If it didn’t, he would cut it down. In this event however, Jesus makes the tree wither right away.

In this event, Jesus makes a different illustration however, possibly because of the questioning disciples.

20 And when the disciples saw it, they marveled, saying, “How did the fig tree wither away so soon?” 21 So Jesus answered and said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but also if you say to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ it will be done. 22 And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.”

Matthew 21:20

Instead of putting humanity as the plant, Jesus puts us in his shoes. If you have what I have, you will be able to do the same and even more than this. What an amazing promise from Jesus! And what is it that Jesus had that we too can have? Faith!

Whatever we ask in prayer with the condition of faith and believing can be a life changing part of your life. Throughout our lives we try and develop who we are, growing in knowledge, strength and character. Don’t forget faith. With faith in our God, all things are possible.

God bless,

Pr. Steven Couto

iCleansing the Temple

/in

iCleansing the Temple

12 Then Jesus went into the temple of God and drove out all those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves.

Matthew 21:12

This is not the usual image that we think of with Jesus. We usually see him as a kind, gentle, loving soul. Here he is powerful and forceful. If nothing less, this story shows the more complex and complete view of who exactly Jesus was. Let’s not forget that it is Jesus who is connected to the ultimate judgement of the world and sin. He is loving yes, but also a judge.

The second thing we see here is Jesus’ love for his church. It took see wrongdoing in the Temple to bring out the forceful and some could even say violent side of Jesus to come out. Seeing his Temple being reduced to store or for-profit establishment was too much for him. It was a very physical representation of what many Jews had done within their own hearts. God was put into a secondary role, if not worse.

13 And He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a ‘den of thieves.’ ”

Matthew 21:13

‘My house…’ What a powerful statement Jesus made. The Temple was not owned by the priests or even the Jews. The Temple was God’s and still is God’s. This is something that we today must always keep in mind. God’s church is not ours. Yes, maybe our tithes and offerings build it and keep it running, but again, is it really your tithes and offerings?

We cannot fall into the same hole and trap that the Jews did. We must never lose sight as to the purpose of the church here on earth. It is not a social or private club. It exists because the world is full of people who are lost and confused. It should be a light and a help to anyone who is in need. It should be more focused on those outside of the church than those inside.

Look at the result of Jesus driving out the money and profit focused people in the Temple.

14 Then the blind and the lame came to Him in the temple, and He healed them.

Matthew 21:14

With profit and self out of the way, the Temple was now ready to give sight to the blind and strength to the lame. With a simple, yet forceful act from Jesus, the Temple had returned to be what it was designed for.

All churches can follow in this direction. Let our church truly be God’s church.

God bless,

Pr. Steven Couto

The Triumphal Entry

/in

The Triumphal Entry

Now when they drew near Jerusalem, and came to Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, then Jesus sent two disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go into the village opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her. Loose them and bring them to Me. 3 And if anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord has need of them,’ and immediately he will send them.”

Matthew 21:1-3

The triumphal entry of Jesus is a very interesting part of Jesus’ ministry. It was prophesied in the Old Testament and so had to happen.

4 All this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying: 5 “Tell the daughter of Zion, ‘Behold, your King is coming to you, Lowly, and sitting on a donkey, A colt, the foal of a donkey.’ ” 6 So the disciples went and did as Jesus commanded them. 7 They brought the donkey and the colt, laid their clothes on them, and set Him on them.

Matthew 21-4-7

What is strange about this story is the ending. People were excited. Everyone was ready for a new king but Jesus had very different plans.

8 And a very great multitude spread their clothes on the road; others cut down branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 Then the multitudes who went before and those who followed cried out, saying: “Hosanna to the Son of David! ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!’ Hosanna in the highest!” 10 And when He had come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, “Who is this?” 11 So the multitudes said, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth of Galilee.”

Matthew 21:8-11

Just when everything seemed to be going right Jesus does something that no one expected. He created a whip with cords and began to drive out the animals from the Temple.

What was the purpose then of the entrance? It must be more than simply fulfilling a prophecy?

When I read it, I see God making it very clear what was in the hearts of his people. They were more than ready to get a new king and defeat Rome and take their place as rulers of the world. They were anxious for power and authority and to escape bondage. What they weren’t ready for was to clean up their spiritual lives. They wanted to continue in their halfhearted worship of God, worshiping in their own way and not His. Can we sometimes be thinking the same way?

God bless,

Pr. Steven Couto

Forgiveness

/in

Forgiveness

21 Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?”

Matthew 18:21

How many times do we arrogantly go to God saying or doing something we think is above and beyond? Peter thought he was being an ultimate human being by suggesting forgiveness up to seven times. We often shake our heads at Peter in this story but in real life, from a human standard, he actually was been very generous. Most people don’t give others a second chance or possibly a third. Forgiving someone seven times is a lot.

When God is put in the picture however, seven becomes nothing. How many times has God forgiven you in your life? How many times has he forgiven you just this week or even today? If seven was an adequate amount we all would be very lost.

22 Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.

Matthew 18:22

Here Jesus greatly multiplies the number seven, not because this is the actual number of times we should forgive but as a lesson to show that we have to learn and grow to greatly multiply what we think God asks from us. Jesus is saying that forgiveness must be given a much greater role and importance in what we think of as a Christian. He is also showing us how God sees forgiveness, and thank God for that.

For God, there really is no limit to the number of times He can forgive. The limit is actually set by us and the amount of times we feel like we deserve forgiveness. Those who no longer receive forgiveness from God are those who have given up and no longer seek it or convince themselves that God will no longer forgive them. The truth however is that, even as the thief on the cross, God is willing to forgive even in our last moments of life and choice.

How can we develop our level of forgiveness to others? We do this by looking at God level for us. If God, a king, can forgive us for so much, how can we not forgive the smaller infractions done by those around us? That is the parable lesson in Matthew 18:23-34 which I’ll let you read on your own.

The last verse is the most important for us.

35 “So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses.”

Matthew 18:35

God will judge and forgive us based on our own level of forgiveness of others. That can be a terrifying prospect. It should also be a great motivator to change ourselves.

 

God bless,

Pr. Steven Couto

Not One Lost

/in

Not One Lost

14 Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.

Matthew 18:10

At the end of the parable of the lost sheep we have this verse. God’s will is that not even one human should be lost. Unfortunately we know that will not be the case as many will purposely give up their salvation but it’s a loving message none the less. And it is with this contextual verse that we enter into a famous part about dealing with sinful members. Unfortunately most Bibles separate verse 10 from the next part with a title and people don’t read them together but they should. You see, it’s in the context that God wants to save everyone that he speaks about dealing with sinners or in other words, dealing with sinners should be done in a way that everyone should be saved. Dealing with sinners is not about cutting out the bad but saving the bad.

15 “Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother.

Matthew 18:15

This verse makes it very clear that the goal is to save your brother. We should always remember that when dealing with these situations. This work is not about simply keeping the church ‘pure’ and ‘holy’ as is the case many times. That member makes us look bad so we should get rid of him. I’ve heard this many times even if not with these exact words. No, it is about helping someone who’s fallen from finding his footing with Christ again.

16 But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that ‘by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.’ 17 And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector.

Matthew 18:16-17

Two important things can be learned from these verses. The first is that you should only elevate or grow the situation if nothing else can be done. Not every issue in a church should be spoken of in the front like a sermon. Private situations should remain just that and hopefully resolved in like manner.

The other thing is that separating someone from the church is an extreme and final solution only done if the person truly doesn’t repent or even acknowledge their problem. It should never be the first, second or even third choice but always the final extreme. With that said, sometimes it is needed to be done. When done however it is still with the hope and love of trying to bring the person back to God. We should never close a door for good. Remember, God wants that not even one should be lost.

God bless,

Pr. Steven Couto

Your Angel

/in

Your Angel

10 “Take heed that you do not despise one of these little ones, for I say to you that in heaven their angels always see the face of My Father who is in heaven.

Matthew 18:10

There are verses in the Bible that seem simple yet say so much. This is one of those verses. On the surface, Jesus is simply acknowledging the importance of little children in the sight of God but when you actually look at what Jesus is saying, much more can be gleaned.

The children’s angels see the face of God. What does that mean? What was Jesus trying to say? It is similar to the saying that so-and-so has someone’s ear. The children’s angels see the face of God and therefore are up there with God and have the ability to speak with him. If they feel that their chosen child is being harmed or put down, they will pass on their displeasure with God himself. That is a powerful position. Don’t despise a child because, God himself might come back at you. That child has connections. That child is protected.

I also like the idea, that even though God knows everything, he seems to allow people (or angels in this case) to argue their points and grievances. It takes away the idea that heaven is a complete dictatorship where only God speaks and makes decisions. This implies that people can reason with God and gain favor.

“Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the Lord, “Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool.

Isaiah 1:18

God himself asks us to reason with him. Yes he is all powerful, all knowing and so on, but he still wants to hear your opinion and have you make your choices. This always blows my mind to think about. How much easier and cleaner the world would be if we simply had to follow God’s ideas and paths but no. God wants us to use our brains and think and make decisions.

11 For the Son of Man has come to save that which was lost.

Matthew 18:11

After the verse with the angels seeing the face of God we are left with this verse. Jesus came to save the lost so don’t leave anyone out of your mission for salvation. Don’t say someone is too young or old or black or white or rich or poor. God has a plan to save everyone regardless of themselves. Let us chose to follow that plan and not the Devils, where some are too different or sinful to be saved.

God bless,

Pr. Steven Couto

Temple Tax

/in

Temple Tax

24 When they had come to Capernaum, those who received the temple tax came to Peter and said, “Does your Teacher not pay the temple tax?”

Matthew 17:24

There are a few stories in the Bible that are rarely used. Others are almost always told as a children’s story. This is one of those stories. The temple tax collectors asked Peter if Jesus paid his temple tax. Just so you know, this was neither tithe nor an offering that was being mentioned here. This was a tax that was created, and of which the Jewish priests were exempt from, which had to be given once a year. It was created during the rebuilding of Nehemiah and was probably supposed to be temporary as Israel was being rebuilt, the people were still enslaved and so regular tithes and offerings were probably not enough. By the time of Jesus, the Temple was flush with funds and there was no need for this tax but obviously the Jewish leaders would not pass up extra funds.

In verse 25, Peter answered, “Yes.” He did this of course without actually knowing or asking Jesus. He assumed or simply didn’t want his master to look bad and so answered with his own idea.

25 And when he had come into the house, Jesus anticipated him, saying, “What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth take customs or taxes, from their sons or from strangers?” 26 Peter said to Him, “From strangers.” Jesus said to him, “Then the sons are free.

Matthew 17:25-26

As always, even though he wasn’t there to hear, Jesus knew what had transpired and he confronted Peter. The problem was obvious. If the Jewish priests and leaders didn’t have to pay the tax, why would the Son of God? What I love about this story is that, although he corrects Peter, he doesn’t blame or punish him. Instead he uses Peter to a miracle which also saved face for the entire ordeal.

27 Nevertheless, lest we offend them, go to the sea, cast in a hook, and take the fish that comes up first. And when you have opened its mouth, you will find a piece of money; take that and give it to them for Me and you.”

Matthew 17:27

I love how Jesus didn’t want to offend the tax collectors even though they obviously asked to offend Jesus. I also love how the coin was to pay for Jesus and Peter. Peter received a blessing even though he made a rash mistake. That is love and grace at work.

God bless,

Pr. Steven Couto